WHAT TO PUT IN AND WHERE TO BUY THINGS FOR YOUR GIFT BASKET

The uniqueness of your gift basket is limited only by your creativity and imagination. A generic basket filled with foods such as popcorn, nuts, candy, cookies, pretzels, mustard, sausage, and cheese is fine for people you don’t know very well. Just about everyone likes these snacks and they can enjoy eating them as soon as the basket arrives (instant gratification)! These items can easily be found at any store where you shop for food.

Spend a few moments thinking about whom the gift is for, decide on a theme, write down all of the items you want to include, and then go shopping. A small container, it doesn’t have to be a basket, with an 8”-10” opening will hold from 4-6 items; a medium container, about 10”-12”, will hold 7-10 items; and a large container, 12”-16”, will hold 10-15 items. The container you use must have a flat bottom so it will rest securely wherever you place it.

Containers can be a tightly woven basket or almost anything else that has a depth of at least 4”. Here are a few examples: a colander, a tool box, an oversized mug, a children’s wagon, a jewelry box, a pretty ceramic bowl, a decorative sled, a terra cotta flower pot, a tower of various sized pretty boxes, a watering can, a fishing creel, a 6 or 12 pack ice cooler. Check out your local Dollar Store, Drug store, Big Lots, Wal Mart for clever ideas at reasonable prices.

Themes are great fun to dream up. Let me help get you started with some ideas I’ve used.

Gourmet coffees and teas can be ordered via the internet (google tea or coffee) or check out Trader Vics, Old World Market, and Health Food Stores. Add dark chocolate, cookies, honey, mugs, cinnamon sticks, and even a good paperback book.

I know this is a pretty common theme, but here are some suggestions how to make it more interesting. In addition to the usual wine, crackers, and cheese add some of the following: wine glass charms, coasters, wine glasses. There is a fabulous website, theelegantdrunk.com that has a great selection.

Use a canvas gardening bag or flower pot, add gardening gloves, seeds, tools, small watering can, plant food, and even a little plant. If you’re feeling extravagant, add a gift certificate for a plant of the month from your local nursery. You can find all of these items (except the plant of the month) at a Home Depot or Lowes. Check out foliageunlimited.net to find out more about specific plants.

I could go on forever with this one: aromatic or floating candles, body wash, loofah sponge, bath soaps, bath pillow for reading, teas, a relaxing CD, and just for fun a gift certificate for a massage. Bed Bath and Beyond has it all or go online to: bathandbodyworks.com or aromatherapygoddess.com

Stationary, note pad and pen, books, light that attaches to book, nuts, mug, hot chocolate, teas, subscription to Sunday New York Times Book Review Section (nytimes.com).

Fill your basket with whatever kind of foods your gift recipient likes: Italian, Greek, Mexican, These can be found at upscale supermarkets (and even regular ones), specialty stores, Trader Vics, and Old World Market. A cookbook is always a great addition (amazon.com).
Italian: pasta, sauce, cheese, biscotti, olive oil, stuffed olives, wine
Greek: hummus, olives, feta cheese, pita bread, grape leaves, Ouzo
Mexican: salsa, chips, tortillas & warmer, avocados,

Check out your local athletic store, they’ll have it all plus more; caps, tee shirts, cooler cups, thermos, brew mugs, all with his or her favorite team logo. You can also go online and check out sites like NBAstore.com NFLshop.com collegefootballstore.com. Don’t forget lots of snacks for watching the big game (popcorn, pretzels, nuts). Great personalized brew mugs on theelegantdrunk.com

We could all benefit by receiving this basket filled with, almonds, walnuts, dark chocolate, green or black tea, mugs. Add some recipes for healthy dishes or a healthy cooking cookbook, or a gift certificate to a health food store. A fruit of the month membership (order online) is a great idea but make sure you use a reputable company. Not one that charges a great deal but sends very little fruit.

Spice up your basic snack gift basket by adding a gift certificate to rent DVDs or for your local movie theater, a subscription to Net Flix (netflix.com), or even a subscription to a movie magazine (premier.com).

1. A strong container with a flat bottom and at least a 4” well area
2. Food items
3. Keepsake Items: books, clothes, stationary, bath and body products, music, mugs & glasses, gardening tools, plants, picture frames, sporting goods, candles, and gift certificates. These will stay as reminders of your thoughtfulness long after the food is gone
4. Decorations: artificial flowers or greenery, pine cones (if you pick them up in your back yard be sure to sterilize them in the oven), a bow (pre- made at a craft store or make one using wired ribbon), evergreens from your trees, or anything else that adds some sparkle to your creation.

Any questions on where to find things or how to put it all together just leave a message on my blog.